Should my 2-month-old puppy take glucosamine for hip health?

Make sure to start Maul on a breed specific large breed puppy food to help prevent orthopedic problems as a puppy. But starting her on size approriate joint supplements while young may very well help as she gets older.

Joint supplements such as glucosamine, chondroitin and MSM promote joint health by protecting cartilage, reducing or slowing cartilage breakdown and improve joint lubrication. While these supplements do not cure or reverse hip dysplasia, they may slow the progression and provide a measure of pain relief. Please discuss surgical options for Coco with your veterinarian. There are surgical options available.

If he is eating a good quality large breed puppy food, he should not need vitamin supplementation. If you want to give him one, you can't go wrong with Pet Tabs ( https://www.zoetisus.com/products/dogs/pet-tabs.aspx ). A joint supplement, such as Cosequin ( https://www.cosequin.com/ ) or Dasuquin ( https://www.dasuquin.com/en/products/ ), can also be started. Additionally, keep Brandy lean and active.

I don't think that your pup will stop making glucosamine naturally if she were on a supplement. However, I do not typically start such young dogs on this type of supplementation unless they have been diagnosed with a cartilage disorder. An appropriately balanced commercial dog food for large breed dogs will have a great balance of minerals, nutrients, and protein to support her musculoskeletal system. I also agree that the efficacy of glucosamine supplements is a bit iffy. I have seen much better results in dogs with arthritis or other joint issues with Adequan injections.

It's fine to start your 1.5 year old dog on the joint supplement, but it's not recommended to start puppies on joint supplements until he is at least a year old. That's because a puppy will be producing it's own glucosamine for his joints, and will not needed the added support. I would speak to your vet about giving your older dog the GI balance supplement to see if he needs it, but again I would not give it to the puppy until he is at least a year old. He doesn't need any additional supplemental while he's growing, as too much can be detrimental to his growth and health. The reason why I suggest speaking to your vet about giving it to your older dog is because, again, too many vitamins and minerals can be detrimental to your dog, and it may not be healthy to give to him.

Hello and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If Halo and your other dog are on a good quality, balanced diet there is no benefit to giving calcium. I'm assuming you mean that they are already on a glucosamine supplement. Glucosamine supplements vary in quality so make sure they are on a quality veterinary product like Dasuquin. Adding in an omega-3 supplement may also be helpful. Nordic Naturals pet products offers a good omega-3 supplement for pets. Finally, it would be a good idea to ask your veterinarian about Adequan injections. These injections can be very helpful managing hip dysplasia and are very safe!

Hello. Joint supplements are designed to aid in the inhibition of the degenerative enzymes that break down the cartilage in joints, therefore they are chondroprotective. If the old pelvic fracture did not actually involve the joint, & most specifically the coxofemoral joint (hip), then joint supplements will not help in this situation. But joint supplements may be beneficial to all the other moving joints in the body, so knees, elbows, hips & hocks can be helped. In general, for the bigger dogs, like Husky's, I think starting a joint supplement around 7 years of age is ideal, unless radiographic signs of arthritis, or pain in the joint begin earlier. Hope this helps. Thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.